A few weeks ago, Jonathan Stern got in touch, wondering if I would like to participate in a new website he and his best friend, Carter Duncan were creating. “In the spirit of the Federalist Papers, my best friend from Duke and I have built a website called Pairagraph for written dialogue between distinguished individuals,” he wrote. The thinking behind the project was to “bring world leaders across government, industry, academia, religion, and the arts into a conversation about great events and great ideas, and perhaps, to revive the Republic of Letters.” 

University of Berkeley economist Brad DeLong is interested in discussing whether the U.S. is in decline. Is it true, as pessimists proclaim, that America has plateaued? Or that we are mired and trapped in civilizational languor? Is our culture exhausted? As someone who loves Prof. DeLong and his writing, it was such a privilege to have a dialogue with him. 

While the good professor is feeling discouraged about the American prospects, I am a long-term believer. I posted my first response today on Pairagraph! My original draft was over a thousand words, but I can’t go beyond 600 words. For now, here is my abbreviated take on why I don’t think America is in decline despite the recent events. Not yet!